Leadfinger (aka Stewart Cunningham).... has again lost his shirt on rock'n'roll!!!
“Inspired by Brian Wilson’s penchant for hanging out in his bathrobe all day playing piano, in 2008 I really enjoyed spending lots of time in my PJ’s and slippers, strumming a guitar – 20 odd years of playing in bands can do this to you but it beats working and it’s too hot for leather jackets in Australia. I suppose I should mention that I have a new album of rock’n'roll songs called ‘Rich Kids’ out any day now on the Bang! Records label. Merry Xmas.”
1. The Devil at My Door by The Nice Folk….won’t be officially released till 09 but throughout 08 I spent most of my free time producing and mixing this album by a young up and coming band from my home town, Wollongong. Despite rejection from a few rekid labels this killer album from a new gen of Aussie songsters is coming out on the Music Farmers label (www.musicfarmers.com
2. Eye by Robyn Hitchcock – released in 1981. Yes, it took me a long time to discover this but better late than never – send me a coupla bucks when you realise how good it is.
3. Brian Henry Hooper live at the Annandale Hotel 8th June 08. Brian was having some trouble for his solo acoustic set on this night, the guitar and vocal mic were feeding back etc., he wasn’t happy but for some reason it made the whole thing even better and it was still more rock’n'roll than the other bands I saw that night. Brian wears his heart on his sleeve with his songs. He threw his guitar down on the last song and stormed out of the venue.
4. Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner by Warren Zevon.
5. The Big Bang! Festival at the Tote Hotel, Melbourne August 15/16 - a celebration of all things to do with Bang! Records with Kim Salmon, Kill Devil Hills, Spencer Jones, Penny Ikinger, Bored! et al….and my own band, Leadfinger got to play too….one cynical Sydneysider suggested to me that it would be a weekend of back slapping, oh well…..it definitely was two brilliant nights of Australian underground music.
6. Busking on my Dobro guitar at various places round Sydney and ‘the Gong’….good ‘craic’.
7. Eye Mind – the Saga of Roky Erickson and the 13th Floor Elevators by Paul Drummond. I still can’t believe those guys did what they did.
8. Acid Reign by The Hellacopters
9. Popsicle by Diamond Nights. Not sure when this came out but it’s a killer album to drive to.
10. Rory Gallagher – Irish Tour 74 DVD, a film by Tony Palmer. I have to thank Tim Rogers for telling me about this one…takes you back to the gritty glory days of 70′s rock… A totally non-digital world of denim and plaid in an Ireland of post-industrial gloom. After gig hootenanny’s in real Irish pubs where hirsute locals all join in with the band and everyone has a turn at the mic, guinness in hand, real people and music so far removed from reality tv, itunes and Hollywood it makes me cry in my beer thinking rock’n'roll was never so good. The live footage is fantastic too, I’m a fan.
Honorable Mentions…….You Am I live at The Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle, Electric Aboriginals by Awesome Color, Through the Cracks CDep by Leadfinger (well I liked it!!)
